Apparatus for maintaining a liquid in uniform condition



March 18, 1941. sc 2,235.336

APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING A LIQUID IN UNIFORM CONDITION Filed Oct. 10, 1938 I I INVENTOR Ewan/575R,

ORNEY Patented Mar. Is, 1941 APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING A LIQUID IN UNIFORM CONDITION Fritz Schuster, Chemnitz, Germany Application October 10,1938, Serial No. 234,329. In Germany March. 29, 1938 The present invention relates to the control of treating liquids and more particularly to means for maintaining a treating liquid in uniform condition.

In treating textile materials, such forexample as hosiery carried by the usual forms, it has been the general practice to return any surplus liquid to the main supply tank after a treating operation. Such method has serious disadvantages because all returned liquid has collected from the fabric being treated foreign matter and other substances in the form of dirt, fibers, flakes and the like. When such returned liquid is reused the fabric is not only spotted by the matter in suspension but where the liquid is used for spraying the spray nozzles become clogged and uneven treatment results. Furthermore this surplus liquid hasbeen depleted of its treating content and as a result the contents of the supply tank gradually become thinner and thinner so there is a wide variation between the first and last materials treated, even though these receive liquid from-the same source.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to provide an apparatus wherein the foregoing disadvantages in the treatment of hosiery and other fabrics are eliminated; to provide an apparatus wherein surplus liquid from a fabric treating operation can be returnedto a source of supply without materially varying the active content of the treating liquid; to provide an apparatus wherein surplus liquid from a fabric treating operation can be efi'iciently reused in substantially its original condition and chemical content; to provide means for separating foreign particles and matter from treating liquid which is to be reused; and to provide other improvements as will hereinafter appear.

. In the accompanying drawing the figure represents a side elevation, partly in section, of a control system for treating liquid embodying one form of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing the present invention, as here shown, consists of -a supply pipe I v leading fromthe discharge side of a pump II to a point of use, such for example as an apparatus for spraying or otherwise impregnating hosiery or other textile fabrics. The pump II is driven by a suitable motor I2 and has its inlet side connected by a pipe I3 to a tank I4 which functions as a control tank, as will later appear. Preferably the tank I4 is supplied with treating liquid control 'tank I4 and holds the treating liquid which is properly prepared as to chemical content and proportions for the use intended. Pref- I erably the position of the tank I4 with respect 5 to the reservoir I1 is such that fiow from the reservoir I1 is by gravity and is controlled by a valve 20 arranged to be closed and opened through the rise and fall of a float 2| ridingupon the liquid in the tank l4 at a location to l0 maintain a level near the top of the. aforesaid tank I4. The pipe I6 communicates with the settling receptacle I8 which receives the return surplus. liquid after the treating operation by way of return pipe 22. A partition 23 divides the receptacle I8 into two portions, one communicating with the pipe 22 and. the other with the pipe I6. This partition 23 terminates a short distance from the top of the receptacle I8 so that the incoming liquid rises at one side and overflows to the other side. Thus on the inlet .side any foreign matter, such as fibers, flakes and so forth will have a chance to settle whereby relatively clear solution fiows over the partition 23. More complete filtering is obtaining by mounting a straining screen 24 at a convenient location so that all of the return liquid passes therethrough.

In order to properly mix the liquid in the control tank I4, a branch pipe 25 leads from the supply pipe I0 into the tank I4 where its outlet is located in relatively close proximity to the bottom thereof. Thus the liquid -by-passed through the pipe 25 acts to agitate the liquid in the tank I4 and thus maintain it in a uniform condition.

The'control tank I4 is provided with a drain outlet 26 by which any sediment or residue can be drawn off when necessary, or the tank emptied for cleaning purposes. Also a valve 21 is located 40 in the branch pipe 25 so that the agitating action can be controlled at will.

In operation the main reservoir I1 is filled with the treating liquid which has been duly prepared and proportioned for the required treatmentand with 'the valve 2!! opened the control tank I4 fills to the fixed level whereupon the valve 20 closes. With the pump II in operation the liquid is drawn from the tank I4 and dischargedthrough pipe I0 to the apparatus by which the hosiery or fabric is treated. All surplus from this treating apparatus returns by pipe 22 to the settling receptacle I8 where it is filtered and delivered 'by pipe I6 to the control tank I4 where a complete mixing takes place with fresh liquid admitted automatically when needed through the valve In this way atreating liquid uniform as to its constituents is maintained so that the material treated is free from the spots, irregularities and variations usually accompanying treating liquids supplied by ordinary known methods.

It should .be noted that the capacity of the control tank It with respect to the main reservoir I1 is relatively small. I

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. An apparatus for controlling liquid delivered to hosiery being processed comprising a main reservoir, means to discharge liquid from said reservoir to a point of use, a control tank interposed between said main reservoir and said discharge means, a device actuated by variations oi! level in said tank for controlling the flow from said reservoir, a return from the point of use for delivering surplus liquid to said control tank,

and a by-pass for liquid from said, discharge treating liquid.

a FRITZ SCHUSTER 20 aasasaa means to "agitate the liquid in said control 2. An apparatus for controlling treating liquid delivered to'hosiery being processed comprising a main reservoir for prepared treating liquid, a'

control tank arranged to receive liquid from said reservoir, said tank having a small cubic capacity relative to said reservoir, means including a float in said tank for controlling the feed of liquid from said reservoir, pump means for drawing liquid from said tankand discharging it to the hosiery point of use, 'a return for used treating liquid communicating with said control tank, a

filtering receptacle-in said return, whereby a fresh supply and a used filtered supply of treatingliquid are commingled in said control tank, is

and-a by-pass from the discharge 01' said pump means to deliver liquid under the line pressure into said control tank to mix the two supplies of 

